Poker is a card game played in many forms around the world. It is considered a table game of skill and is played in homes, clubs, and casinos. It has even been called the national card game of the United States and its play and jargon permeate American culture.

In most poker games the players make bets with chips that represent money. One player, designated by the rules of the specific poker variant being played, has the privilege or obligation to place the first bet in each betting interval (as defined by the poker variant). Each player to his left may choose to either call the bet by placing chips into the pot equal to or more than the amount of the bet placed by the player before him; raise the bet by adding more money to the pot; or drop his hand. If he drops, he forfeits any chips he has already put into the pot and must wait until the next deal to compete in the poker game again.

When writing about Poker, keep in mind that it is a game of emotion and tension. The best way to hold that tension is with pacing. You can use a lot of action description but be careful not to make it too choppy. You can also add a lot of tension by showing how the players react to the cards that are dealt. How the players look at each other, their expressions, and even how they flinch or smile when certain cards are revealed.